Police: Casings from same caliber gun used in Saturday's two shootings in Cambridge

Amy Saltzman asaltzman@wickedlocal.com @cambridgechron

Tuesday

Jul 17, 2018 at 11:05 AMJul 17, 2018 at 12:26 PM

A total of 16 shots rang out early Saturday in Cambridge as a barrage of bullets targeted two men, who were both shot in the arm within one hour of each other in separate shootings. The incidents occurred just three days after the Cambridge Police Department held a peace walk in the Port neighborhood, which has borne the brunt of this year’s surge in gun activity.

“We’re frustrated,” said CPD Superintendent Steven DeMarco, who oversees Criminal Investigations. “Our Task Force guys have been out on the streets, talking to so many different people. The entire department is frustrated, as well as the community. We felt like we were making a lot of progress.”

Gunfire incidents are at a decade-high in Cambridge, with a total of 12 shootings so far this year — five of which were in May alone. There were two in the first half of June, but then none until this past Saturday, July 14, which led police to believe they were making headway with the task force that began in mid-June, according to DeMarco.

But those who heard the shots Saturday got a frightening reminder that gunfire has not ceased.

Saturday’s shooting

DeMarco said it’s unclear whether the two shootings Saturday, July 14, are related. However, the casings found at the two locations were from the same caliber gun, he said. And the shootings, police believe, were not random.

In the first shooting Saturday, which occurred around 12:17 a.m. at Cambridge and Fifth streets, a Cambridge man was shot in the arm while sitting in a car. Six shell casings were found, according to DeMarco, and two cars, including the one occupied by the victim, and a Fifth Street home were struck. The second car just happened to be driving by the scene, DeMarco said. No one was hurt other than the man police believe was targeted.

The second shooting, which occurred around 1:23 a.m. at Washington and Cherry streets in the Port, a Somerville man was also shot in the arm. This time, however, 10 bullets were fired. Two cars were also hit, but both were parked and unoccupied, and two apartments inside a Cherry Street building were also struck. No one inside the apartments was injured.

“Thank God no one was hit in that car driving by and no one was hit in the houses either,” said DeMarco.

DeMarco: Public’s help needed

DeMarco said the department is trying to figure out why there’s been a surge in gun activity.

“It might be multi-causal,” said DeMarco. “It’s definitely to me something that we should be focusing on, getting to the root cause of what’s going on. We’re not going to give up on the community. It’s a priority for us. We’re definitely trying to make an impact and trying to get to the bottom of it.”

“We feel we’re making inroads, but we need cooperation and help from the community,” he added.

DeMarco said the department has received solid information from the anonymous tip line in the past, and he encourages the public to say something if they know something.

In the meantime, the department is continuing its investigation, talking with witnesses and other individuals, and gathering as much evidence as possible.

One of the next steps is sending the ballistic evidence to the State Police so it may be entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). Then investigators can determine whether the firearm or firearms used in Saturday’s shootings are linked.

“We’re confident that [Saturday’s shootings] are not random; they’re targeted incidents. But whether they are related is yet to be determined, and we’re still working hard to figure that out,” he said.

Anonymous tips may be sent to CPD via text message to TIP411 (847411) or call 617-349-3359 and leave a message. Begin the text with TIP650 and then type a message.